Exhaust-controlled spark-arrester.



E. A. AM-ERSO N. EXHAUST CONTROLLED SPARK ARRESTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-16.1917- Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

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EDWARD ANTON AMERSON, OF CASTLEWOOD, SOU 'TH DAKOTA.

EXHAUST-CONTROLLED sPARK-ARRESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed AugustlG, 1917. Serial No. 186,575. j 7

To all whom it may concern:

*Beit known that I, EDWARD ANTON AMER- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Castlewood, in the county of Hamlin and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exhaust-Oontrolled Spark-Arresters and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in spark arresters for use on coal or woodburning locomotives and the like.

The primary object is to provide a simple and efficient means for preventing the escape of sparks and burning cinders from the smoke stacks of locomotives or the like.-

Another object is to provide a device of this character which will be automatically operated by the steam from the exhaust pipe in the smoke-box. I

Still another object is to provide a device of this character which will be highly efficient as a spark arrester and will simul taneously serve as a muflier for the steam exhaust pipe.

"A further object is to provide a device of this character which will eliminate the necessity of employing the cinder sieves, and diaphragms which are used in the ordinary typesof smoke-boxes.

-With these and numerous 'other objects in view my invention resides in the novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts as described in the specification and claims and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this applica-' tionand in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a-portlon of a locomotive, illustrating' a device constructed in accordance with the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the open screen frame and parts intimately associated therewith, and I Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the planes indicated respectively by. the lines 33 and 4: 1 of Fig. l.v

The preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated I in the accompanying drawings comprises an ordinary smoke-box 1 having a horizontally disposed steam exhaust pipe 2 therein, said pipe having its.

outer free end tapered and directed up- Patented Mar. 19, 1918. V

wardly for a purpose which will be herein-' after-set forth. Leading outwardly and upany preferred constructiona wardly from the smoke-box is a stack-3 of mounted on the exhaust pipe 2, said clamp comprising a length of fiat metal adapted to encircle the pipe and have a pairof downwardly directed parallel spaced apertured ears 5,'through which apertures is adapted to pass a bolt or the like fastening element I 6 to securely retain the clamp on the pipe 2. In order'that the clamp may be readlly removed from the pipe, or adjusted, it -is broken at one point, preferably on one side,

and having the metal at. the adjacent ends rolled back to form knuckles 7 to receive the opposite end cross-bars of a substantially rectangular open link 8, which serves as a pivot for one section of the clamp prior to removin the same. 1

Disposed on theupper outer face of the pivot clampv is a pair of upstanding parallel spaced ears 9, having laterally oppositely directed attaching feet 10 fastened to the clamp. The ears are provided with a series of vertically spaced,horizontally alined apertures and with a pivot bolt 11 to be suit ably adjusted in any. one pair of apertures for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

Disposed between the pivot clamp 4 and the outlet end of the steam'exhaust pipe is a secondclamp 12 of substantially the same construction as the pivot clamp 4, having theparallel spaced ears l3, pivot link-14 and V clamping bolt 15. v The uppermost portion of the clamp 12 is bowed upwardly and apertured, for the reception of a stem or bolt 16' whose head is disposed in the recess formed by the bowed portion. The stemrl6 is threaded its entire length and is passed upwardly through the aperture in the clamp 12, anut 18 being threaded'thereon to retain the bolt'on the clamp. A second nut 19 is threadedon the a stem 16 to a, point adjacent the nut 18 fora purpose to be seen as the descriptionpro- 'gresses.

threaded stein above the lever is a coil spring 21, which is retained on the stem by two locking and adjusting nuts 2;, whereby the tension of the spring will hold the lever in its lowermost position, the stem 16, when the device is in operation, serving as aguide stem for the lever.

.t a point beyond the guide stem 16 the lever is bent vertically upward and, then again horizontally in the same direction as the first named portion of the lever to form a support 23 for a screen and cone to be described. A cone 24: is adapted to be con neeted to the support 23 by a bolt which extends through an aperture in the apex of the cone, the head being at the lower end outside of the cone, the stem 25 of the bolt being extended through an aperture in the support and a nut being threaded on the upper end of said stem to retain the cone in proper position. The apex of the cone normally, is received in the tapered open end of the exhaust pipe 2 for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth.

A pair of horizontally spaced vertical upwardly extending bolts 26 are passed through apertures on the opposite sides of the cone 24, the heads of the bolts being disposed on the under side of the support and retainer in position by nuts which are threaded on to the bolt and into contact with the support. A second nut is threaded on each bolt 26 for a short distance for a purpose to be set forth.

An open frame 27 is mounted on the upper ends of the bolts :26, said frame comprising a pair of parallel spaced metal bars 28 connected by a single bar :29 which crosses the bars 28 at points midway their lengths. The bars 28 and 29 are provided with alinedapertures at their crossing points,

said apertures receiving the bolts 26 thereby supporting and connecting the bars, a nut 80 being threaded on the upper end. of each bolt. .ihe ends of the bars are connected by a metal rim 31 which is covered with asbestos and which is riveted or otherwise secured to the bars, whereby a complete frame is formed upon which to secure a wire mesh fabric or screen 32 for a purpose to be seen.

In operation, while the engine is standing still, the cone is disposed in the tapered opening of the steam exhaust pipe, the tension. of the coil spring 21, holding the cone in said position and the screen 32 being relatively movable will be drawn down away from the inlet opening of the stack 8 so as to allow free passage of smoke through said stack.

When the locomotive is moving, the steam being exhausted from the pipe 2 will raise the cone, thereby raising the screen and closing the inlet to the stack 3 so as to' prevent escape of sparks or burning cinders. Although the screen prevents escape of sparks, etc, the smoke readily passes therethrough and the draft is in no way obstructed. The soot, sparks and burning cinwithout sacrificing the principal advan tages.

I claim:-

1. The combination with a locomotive smoke-box and stack thereof; of a screen for covering and uncovering the stack inlet opening, and means automatically operated by the exhaust steam for operating said The combination with a smoke-box and stack thereof; of a screen for covering and uncovering the stack inlet opening, a steam exhaust pipe in the smoke-box, said screen being movable toward and away from the outer extremity of said pipe, and means automatically operated by the exhaust steam for operating said screen.

, The combination with a smoke-box, a smoke stack and a steam exhaust pipe in the smoke-box, of a screen for covering and uncovering the inlet opening of the stack, a cone rigidly connected to the screen and movable into and out of engagement with the outlet opening of the exhaust pipe and automatically operated by the steam from said pipe to operate the screen, and means for retaining the parts in proper relative position; V

he combination with a smoke-box, a smoke stack and a steam exhaust pipe in the smoke-box; of a pivot clamp on said pipe, a second clamp on said pipe, an upstanding guide stem on said second clamp, a lever pivoted at one end to the pivot clamp and having an aperture intermediate its length to receive the guide stem, a screen on the free end of said lever to cover and uncover the stack inlet opening, said screen being movable toward. and from the outer extremity of the pipe and operated by the exhaust steam from said pipe.

The combination with a smoke-box, a smoke stack and a steam exhaust pipe in the smoke-box; of a pivot clamp on saidp1pe,a second'elamp on said pipe, an upstanding guide stem'on said second clamp, a lever pivoted at one end to the pivot clamp and having an aperture intermediate its length to receive the guide stem, a screen on the free end of said lever to cover and uncover the stack inlet opening, a cone con nected to said lever at a point below and A In testimony whereof I have hereunto set vertically alined with the center of the my hand in the presence of two subscribing screen, a coil spring surrounding the guide witnesses.

stem to retain the cone in engagement with EDWARD ANTON AMERSON. the end of the pipe, said cone and screen Witnesses:

being automatically raised by the exhaust 1A; L. CURTIS,

steam. M. J. POMMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the comm i of ru Washington, D. C. v p t 

